So yeah, this is my 3rd profile blog and I've come to realize I've been on this buggy site for 4 years. I wrote the second one partly to celebrate getting 1000 followers. 19 months later and that number has only grown by 87. I must admit this place has lost some of its luster, whether it be popular users that left or just a general decrease in recent activity. However there's still awesome people here and more awesome people becoming a part of this community every day.

Bonus fact you won't care about: I wrote my first profile blog when I was a high school Senior, now I'm about to be a Senior in college.

Last time I showed The Dave Star for my pic. Now you get the real thing, sorry.

Honestly, I can't think of many who haven't been tagged...I guess I'll tag Crabby, Dplayer97,and Tom. I don't think they've been tagged. Idc, at this point if you want to make a profile blog but haven't been tagged, just say I tagged you

]]>Sat, 30 May 2015 17:04:12 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2015/05/30/profile-blog-3-this-time-i-feel-old#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2015/05/21/community-blog-recent-vg-music-faves
Back when I blogged regularly, I posted a lot of video game music, including my Top 100. In fact, the only person I know that's blogged more about game music is C-Mish. I'll eventually get to updating my Top 100 blog, so instead of laying out what would be my favorite tracks in that list, I'm going to share 10 themes I've been thinking about lately.

Majora's Mask - Astral Observatory

We've seen the Song of Healing on many lists so far, and while that theme is great, I prefer a couple others. I have a deeply personal connection to this theme as Majora's Mask was one of the first games I ever played and this theme was subsequently one of my first "favorite themes".

Rayman Legends - Mariachi Madness

I've been replaying this game on Xbox One recently, as it was part of Games with Gold earlier in the year. Man, even if the controls aren't as intuitive as they are on Wii U, all of the other excellent qualities carry over: the beautiful artwork, exceptional level design and, of course, fantastic music. Mariachi Madness is probably my favorite level in the entire game.

The Walking Dead Season 2 - Clementine's Theme (Anadel Mix)

Also known as "Alive Inside" during Season 1, this theme is scarcely used in Season 2. However, it brilliantly accompanies the final set of credits (if you've played both seasons, you'll know why). And the intro definitely disguises the feels trip that's about to happen, thanks Anadel.

Dustforce - Cider Time

The chill music that plays will calm you down whereas the game itself will piss you off, especially if you try to speed through it right away. Because, although it's made for speedruns, your first run through a level should be a slow one. Once you learn how to attack a level, you can start to optimize your path. The controls might not be quite up to the task, but the game is definitely worth checking out if you like tough 2D platformers like I do.

This excellent OC Remix is, sadly, the only Fire Emblem remix on their site (seriously guys, there's enough Green Hill and Wily mixes at this point). Luckily, it's something that sounds like it's ripped from Awakening. Turns out, it's actually a remix of the Story 3 theme in the first Fire Emblem, where Gato is speaking. The original version has a good, but harsh 8-bit melody.

Bayonetta 2 - Mad Rush

Ever since the debut trailer, I've been looking for this theme. It's positively epic, and for damn good reason. It plays during the very first level, which involves fighting angels on a Jet flying through NYC, taking down a bigger angel on a speeding train, and battling your out of control demon summoned at the "end" of your fight. Thank you Nintendo, or else the sentence I just typed would not have been a reality.

Xenoblade Chronicles - You Will Know Our Names

Another game that's been a popular choice among this week's blogs, I thought I'd switch it up a little and choose this theme. I own Xenoblade on Wii, but I only know this theme thanks to Smash 4. I've sadly only played Xenoblade for 20 minutes...I plan to rectify that at some point over the Summer.

Jet Set Radio Future - The Concept of Love

I recently discovered the pure joy that is Jet Set Radio and JSRF. With the latter immediately becoming one of my favorite games of all-time. The gameplay is awesome, art style is timeless and soundtrack just oozes late 90's/early 00's counterculture. I wish SEGA would realize what kind of IP they're sitting on; the worst part about falling in love with the series is realizing how little SEGA cares about making a new one

Mario Kart 8 - Big Blue

Mario Kart 8 has the best DLC of any game ever. I can say that with confidence, in terms of both quantity and quality. The second F-Zero track features this tasty jazz overlay to the usual hard rock of F-Zero themes. Myself and many others presume that the inclusion of F-Zero tracks and Blue Falcon means Nintendo is prepping us for a reveal of a Wii U entry in just a few weeks. Because, as Shokio points out, when people asked for Star Fox it was always attached to "and F-Zero". We already got the former, let's complete the set of dream announcements.

Splatoon - Splattack!

This theme is so new that the game it calls home hasn't been released. However, hearing this theme just reminds me of all the fun I had with the admittedly too-short beta of Splatoon. I can't wait for this game to come out next Friday!

So...yeah. I know I haven't been active on IGN lately (mostly due to college). I plan to change that, and I'd like to get an E3 blog up before E3 actually starts. But I'll worry about that later. Right now you should be concerned with typing a comment below, or, if you feel inclined, make a video game music blog of your own to join in this week's theme.

]]>Thu, 21 May 2015 18:05:47 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2015/05/21/community-blog-recent-vg-music-faves#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2015/01/10/my-top-5-albums-and-eps-of-2014
Much like gaming, a lot of people will look back on music in 2014 and consider it to be a disappointment. And it's hard to argue against it; few albums were simultaneously critically acclaimed and sold well. In fact, I'd say 2014 was a worse year for music than it was for gaming, relatively speaking. However, there were still plenty of songs I enjoyed from 2014, along with other people, like ConkersBadFurDay. I will declare a disclaimer, if you're wondering why album's like St. Vincent and Foo Fighter's new album aren't on this list, it's because...I haven't listened to them yet. If you ask about them in the comments, I'll reply to you (either in the comments or on your wall) after I give 'em a listen.

Honorable Mentions: Albums

Taylor Swift - 1989

I tried to like this album more than I did, but I didn't find many noteworthy songs outside "Shake It Off" and "Blank Space". Both of which I can likely hear on the radio any given day for months to come.

Weezer - Everything Will Be Alright In The End

Holy shit was I excited when I first heard "Back to the Shack". It had everything: great lyrics, catchy, nice melody, and it sounded like classic Weezer. And then I listened to the whole album. A lot of repetitive chorus' and few were as well written as "Back to the Shack". The only other song I find myself listening to is "Da Vinci".

Foxes - Glorious

I was really hyped for this album. Her Warrior EP was excellent. Her first full album contains many songs from this EP and the songs that aren't weren't anything special. I still recommend listening to "Holding onto Heaven" and "Let Go For Tonight"

5. Ariana Grande - My Everything

I know, I know. "Pop shit already?". I think it's quite clear Ariana has an incredible voice. It just depends whether or not her writers give her good material. Once again, I didn't find much to put on repeat other than her radio hits...but that isn't a bad thing. "Break Free", "Problem", "Love Me Harder" and "Bang Bang" are all she needs to put My Everything in my #5 spot.

4. Foster The People - Supermodel

Foster The People had a pretty good first album, Torches. But I think Supermodel's even better. From the infectious track I included above, to even more contemplative tracks "Nevermind" and "Best Friend" (which still carry great melodies), the album is solid throughout. In my opinion, it's really disappointing that Supermodel isn't producing the mainstream playtime and recognition of its predecessor.

3. Riff Raff - Neon Icon

"Every time I open my mouth: history"

Hear me out, this album is just fun to listen to. Riff Raff is so ridiculous with his rhymes, and name drops constantly, but I guarantee at least a couple songs will have you humming the chorus or dancing in your seat. If you want tp rock out, listen to "Kokayne". If you want a great use of a sample (and great guest rapping), listen to "Lava Glaciers". If you want genius lyrics, listen to "Tip Toe Wing In My Jawwdinz".

2. Kimbra - The Golden Echo

I fuckin' love Kimbra. She makes some of the best music out there, which she writes (or at least co-writes) and her voice is absolutely incredible. While other album's debut tracks had me excited, "90's Music" had me worried. It was decidedly un-Kimbra, or at least the Kimbra I knew from the excellent Vows album. There was a ton of distortion and I didn't like the melody at all. After a while, it grew on me and was really just preparing me for the wide variety of tracks The Golden Echo had in store for me. Other highlights include "Carolina", "Madhouse", "Love In High Places", "Nobody But You" and "Waltz Me To The Grave".

1. MØ - No Mythologies to Follow

Oh my, I could gush over MØ and this album for hours and hours. Meaningful lyrics, fantastic melodies, genre-bending sounds and not a bad song on the entire album. If you write your own music, that's a big plus for me, and considering her Danish roots, Karen's command of the English language is impressive. Relatable lyrics can be found in nearly every song, and when I listen to this CD, I rarely skip any of 'em. When trying to decide which song to feature, it was a tough decision. The one I chose is my favorite, but "Maiden" has a great melody, "Glass" reflects how I'm feeling in my life right now, "Never Want To Know" is my go-to sad song, "Don't Wanna Dance" is her most accessible song, and "XXX 88" has the most mainstream appeal...NMTF is just a fantastic album.

Honorable Mentions: EPs

Gotcha! I don't really have any honorable mentions for this category, but I wanted to say that I believe these 5 EPs as a whole are arguably better than the 5 albums I chose. They're definitely all better than My Everything, at least.

5. Meg Myers - Make A Shadow

Powerful. That's the first word I use to describe Meg Myers' voice. There's no better example than "Heart Heart Head". The buildup to the raw emotion at the end of the song is impeccable. She also goes ham when she performs this live. Unfortunately, the rest of the EP doesn't reach the same lofty heights. But "Go" and "Make A Shadow" are definitely worth a listen.

4. Zella Day - Zella Day

I really want to put this EP higher. Zella Day makes catchy songs carried by her excellent voice. Each of the 4 songs on her self-titled debut range from good to amazing. My personal fave is East of Eden, with its great beat drops. But if you would rather see her voice truly take center stage, give "Hypnotic" a listen. And even though it isn't on the EP (and not available to purchase anywhere), I think "No Sleep To Dream" is her best song.

3. Priory - Weekend EP

Much like Foster The People's Supermodel, Priory's songs make you think. The progressive "Put 'Em Up" exemplifies this to a T. But I recommend you listen to all 4 songs on the EP. "Lost Gold" and "Call to Arms" warrant your time as well.

2. Elliphant - Look Like You Love It

Female European artists come close to sweeping the top spots, but Sweden's Elliphant falls one short. But Look Like You Love It is anything but, in fact it's quite a long EP - 7 songs is more than most. So it's a lot easier when you have 7 tracks to pick from opposed to 4. But I don't care, the Mad Decent beats are as good as those on Riff Raff's album and Elliphant's lyrics are reminiscent of a higher energy M.I.A. I chose "Revolusion" because I've already shared my favorite song from the EP on MyIGN previously, "Only Getting Younger". The title track, "All or Nothing", and go-to sad song, "Everything For U", are great too.

1. Meghan Trainor - Title

I'm not going to feature a song you've heard a million times, but there's a damn good reason you have. Meghan Trainor is a great artist, and all 4 songs on her Title EP are fantastic and remarkably catchy. Modern Pop, 60's Pop, Country, and even some Hip-Hop sequences are thrown in to make each song notable. Meghan's smart lyrics, irresistible attitude, and genuinely great voice make her EP my favorite of 2014.

So, what about you guys? Hate my picks? Find some new favorites? Tell me in the comments!

When I think of Wind Waker, I think of freedom (USA! USA! USA!). Sailing on the Great Sea is like no other experience in any game. Wind whips at your sail, the water ebbs and flows around you. You check the map every once in a while, making sure your path is true. Also have to keep an eye on the horizon, enemies can attack at any time and the weather can turn the seas rough in an instant.

But when you arrive onshore, you can't take the King of Red Lions with you. Don't worry, 'cause the gameplay is even better when Link has his hands on a sword instead of the helm. Instead of expanding Link's moveset from OoT with masks like MM, WW gives him a wider set of context-sensitive swings. Depending on whether you tilt the control stick forward, to the side, or not at all, Link will swing in three different ways. Link's also given a counterattack button as well as an upgradeable spin attack.

When you're not slicing up enemies, you'll be interacting with various colorful characters. From the Rito on Dragon Roost to the Koroks in the Forest Haven, the residents are varied and memorable. Even the always lovable Tingle makes an appearance! But the star of the show has to be our sassy pirate, Tetra. So much personality packed into her cute little body, helped by Wind Waker's striking art style. Which is somehow even more gorgeous in the Wii U remake.

Now, Wind Waker is admittedly not perfect. The story is incredible! Until Tetra becomes a trope and [spoilers redacted] which puts a damper on the ending. Sailing is so fun, until you have to complete the tedious Triforce fetch quest. You can only sail back and forth from 'Tingle' to 'Triforce piece' so many times before you get annoyed. Luckily Nintendo realized this and made it bearable in WWHD.

While Wind Waker has a couple minor flaws, Sonic 3 is littered with disappointments. It's hard to find freedom in Sonic's limited moveset and enemy design. Now, the levels themselves are probably the best in the 2D line and the elemental shields add much-needed variety. The level that impresses the most is the first one you encounter, with its memorable mid-stage transformation. WHY DIDN'T ANY OTHER LEVEL DO THAT?

This is the best you got, really?

Sonic 3 also has pretty good music, but nothing that is in the same Galaxy ( ) as Wind Waker. And as for story/characters, it's almost laughable to compare to WW's narrative and cast. I mean, Knuckles' is the epitome of 90's cool...so there's that.

So yeah, I'm putting all my support behind Wind Waker. You silly people can vote for Sonic 3, but stop making Sam your only reason. Yes, he's awesome. Yes, he'll be happy if it wins. But Sam isn't in the video game tournament, it's Sonic 3. Let's vote for games, k?

]]>Sun, 07 Sep 2014 20:49:30 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/09/07/gods-of-the-triforce-hear-that-which-i-desire-victory#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/07/29/lunas-music-thing
The beginning of this blog is going to sound a lot like dilla's: mine has a stupid title, I'd also rather list 10 songs I've been listening to instead of hitting shuffle on my library/a playlist, and in the end, I believe these songs would make up a chunk of my hypothetical "Summer 2014 playlist".

I'm usually not one for dubstep; this is an example of it done right. Elliphant's often political lyrics may end up less noticeable in this selection because of Skrillex's great beat/drops, but I don't mind.

'The Con' - Tegan and Sara

And now for something completely different. I've only recently discovered how incredible T&S are; this was the first song I fell in love with, and the one I go back to the most.

'Space Oddity' - David Bowie

You may be asking yourself, are there any pure fun "Summer" songs in this list? Hold your horses, I want to get reflective for a moment. Up until a couple weeks ago, I felt like I was floating by myself, partly because I wanted to and partly because I had no choice. This song encapsulated my feelings perfectly.

'Let Go for Tonight' - Foxes

Everyone knows her as the singer on Clarity, but I'm probably one of the few Americans (music hipster activate!) that fell in love with her solo stuff first. Her Warrior EP is excellent and my favorite song was the demo version for "Let Go for Tonight". While I still prefer that version, the increased production values on the Glorious release make it more of a Summer song.

'Summertime' - DJ Jazzy Jeff

Here's that pure fun Summer song I was talking about earlier. I've been watching a good bit of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air lately and discovered this release of his. It sounds rather nostalgic even though I didn't listen to the song when it originally came out ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

'Lemme Smang It' - Young Humma feat. Flynt Flossy

One of two non-serious songs on my list. It was discovered by one of my friends and made its rounds through our group of friends. A few of us fell in love with it, including myself, and are know to break out a few of the dance moves when hanging out.

'Word Crimes' - Weird Al Yankovic

Oh hey, here's the other non-serious song. I don't like "Blurred Lines". Musically, it's decent but the lyrics are questionable, at best. So Weird Al took the best part of the original song and paired it with grammar peeves that intelligent people can't stand, and I'm one of 'em. One of my favorites from him, for sure.

'Love Is an Open Door' - Kristen Bell

Okay, some of you might throw this under the "non-serious" category too, but I don't. It was excellent in the movie and works almost as well outside it. I love the back and forth between Kristen/Anna and Santino/Hans, plus the melody is just as infectious as the lyrics.

'Cool Kids' - Echosmith

This song is finally getting some airtime on radios across the US. This is definitely a song for those that didn't fit in with the "cool" kids back in middle/high school. Yeah, it's an easy subject to make a popular song about, but the rest of the song has to be good too.

'Pilgrim' - MØ

Never has "last but not least" been more appropriate. This is the most popular song off of Karen Ørsted's debut album, 'No Mytholigies to Follow' and my favorite. The melody, her voice, her delivery, the fact she writes all her lyrics: I love it all. "Don't Wanna Dance" might be a better "Summer" song, but you can't go wrong with any song from NMTF, it's my favorite album of the year (so far).

This was a great opportunity to share some songs I've been listening to, something I've been wanting to do lately. Thanks Luna! I think I'll tag Blair, Anth, and Crista.

]]>Tue, 29 Jul 2014 14:49:54 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/07/29/lunas-music-thing#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/07/13/zrs-favorite-soundtracks
Aside from C-Mish, I believe I'm the only other MyIGN-er to chronicle their 100 favorite video game themes. You can check out my top ten here (also has links to 11-100). But it's been over a year since I wrote that blog, and I've played a lot of good games since then. So, I'm going to highlight 5 of my favorite OST's that have tracks in that 100 and 5 that have become favorites in the meantime.

Old Fave - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/3D

Songs have an amazing ability to bring out emotions.

As soon as the song starts, it brings me back to the Summer between Junior & Senior year of high school

...how I wish I could go back *sigh*

This song is just pure awesome

***

New Fave - Bastion

This is one of the calmer battle themes in the game, probably why it stands out

The theme to the "good" ending, expertly combines the two most memorable songs from the game

Old Fave - Donkey Kong Country

Underrated imo; I put it up there with Fear Factory and Jungle Hijinx

Was gonna put Aquatic Ambience, but that's too obvious. While the bosses as a whole are better in DKC2, the final boss fight is way better in DKC1, aided by its amazing theme.

***

New Fave - DKC: Tropical Freeze

Equally intense and uplifting

A genius at work

***

Old Fave - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

A VG music list is incomplete without Midna's Lament

Gotta have that extended intro

***

New Fave - Bayonetta

The calm before the storm

As if the second song could've been any other

***

Old Fave - Super Metroid

You know what was missing from Other M? A lot of things, and this was one of 'em.

Few themes are this atmospheric AND melodic

***

New Fave - Rayman Legends

Aptly named; whenever I hear this theme I think of progress and anticipation towards the next challenge.

Narrowing this games' glorious OST down to two tracks was tough, but I always knew this would be one of my choices.

***

Old Fave - Super Mario Galaxy

Only recently did I discover how much I adore this song, probably one of the more underrated SMG tracks

You thought I was gonna post Gusty Garden Galaxy, didn't you Squidward?

***

New Fave - Mario Kart 8

As soon as the game starts, the music is awesome

DAT BASS

This is one of those songs I knew I was gonna include before I even started writing

DAT SAX

***

It finally happened - I'm late! It's technically Monday when I post this, but I hope Tom includes it in his weekly round-up of the theme blogs anyways. And if you keep track of his blog page, unlike me, you can participate on time!

]]>Sun, 13 Jul 2014 21:35:32 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/07/13/zrs-favorite-soundtracks#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/22/my-favorite-video-games-the-perfect-four-subject-to-change
It was only a matter of time before the topic for LiT's weekly blog series were user favorites. But I, like many others, have a hard time choosing just one. Not because I don't have a #1 (I do), but because I feel like more than one game should be recognized. How many games? Top 5? Top ten?

How about perfect games? For me, a perfect game isn't flawless, rather it means that the game excels in every category I care about - gameplay, music, narrative, art style. As of today, four games have fulfilled these criteria.

Bastion

The newest addition to the group was also a surprising one. I had played the demo on PC, but wasn't feeling it, especially with keyboard and mouse controls. When it was part of Xbox Live's Spring sale, I decided to give it another shot. I fell in love. Playing the game felt so much better with a controller, and I was able to fully enjoy what Supergiant Games had created.

The isometric worlds had plenty of style, and the way the ground forms underneath The Kid adds a cool flair to the game. I'm actually not the biggest fan of ARPG's, but the combat system is so simple, elegant and adapts to any play style. Want to bash enemies up close? Stick with the Hammer. Want to pick off baddies from long distance? The sniper rifle is right for you. My personal combo is the Musket (mid-range) and mortar (AoE). The story and music are just as good: Logan Cunningham caresses your ear holes with his sweet narration and Darren Korb's OST is one of the best in gaming.

Super Metroid

Atmosphere. So many modern games try (and fail) to deliver it with environmental sounds and graphical effects. Super Metroid does it with 16 bits and a melodic soundtrack.

Then there's the progression, oh that glorious progression. As you explore the environment and defeat bosses, the percentage of the game you can explore grows exponentially. And the weapons you get to use are awesome: invaluable Super Missiles, the tactical ice beam and screen-clearing Power Bombs. And then there's the subtle, but powerful story. Text appears on screen for all of 30 seconds throughout the whole game (with 25 of those seconds on the opening screens), but it doesn't need it - SM is a testament to the phrase 'actions speak louder than words'.

Super Mario Galaxy

Super Mario 64 was a milestone in 3D gaming, but after clunky Mario Sunshine and great 3D platformers on other systems, what would Mario do next? Oh, just re-invent the 3D platformer with the highest-rated game of all-time.

Gravity manipulation has been done before, but never like in SMG. The variety of level design and level of polish within every facet of the game separate SMG from what's been accomplished in the past. And the variety doesn't stop at gameplay; the levels themselves are full of crazy colors and objects populating the foreground and background. It is space, after all.

And then there are the aspects of the game that make it, imo, undoubtedly better than its sequel. The orchestral music is gorgeous, and the second time around, it just isn't as impressive (especially when SMG2 manages to remix tracks from 1 and make them sound worse!). Next is #RosalinaMasterRace. Before I used that hashtag after my victories in MK8, I was learning about the Mushroom Kingdom's most well-developed character through her library. Her story is cute, but tragic. She's strong (and really freaking tall), but reserved. Her Observatory also serves as the hub for SMG, coming to life as Mario collects precious power stars. What does Mario's Spaceship do? Nothing.

/rant

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

A lot of people don't like TP because the beginning is slow-paced...

...but without getting to know Ordon's residents, why would you care when they're kidnapped?

A lot of people don't like TP because it has a "bland" art style...

...but Nintendo did all they could with a late GC/early Wii game (Just look at the 2011 tech demo, a game in that style would look stunning now).

A lot of people don't like TP because it's easy...

...but, uh, actually, this one is valid. Though you can do simple things to increase difficulty (3 heart runs).

In addition, TP has fantastic dungeon design, sublime music and deep gameplay (Skyward Sword, eat your heart out). But the #1 reason why this game is my #1? Midna. Unlike every other companion in Zelda games, she goes through this crazy thing called "character development". She's a bitch towards Link at first, but as she realizes how much they need each other, she changes her tune. Giving her all to help and protect Link through the rest of their journey. And how 'bout dem boss fights?

So yeah, I think these 4 games are pretty good. As usual, I've waited 'til the last minute to participate in LiT's blog series. But if you keep track of his blog page, he'll put out the next topic soon enough.

]]>Sun, 22 Jun 2014 17:48:11 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/22/my-favorite-video-games-the-perfect-four-subject-to-change#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/08/e3-hopes-and-fears-nintendo-more
It's the most wonderful time of the year...no, not Christmas. E3!!!

There'll be 5 big "conferences" this year, and as usual, I'm anxious to watch every one of them. There's excitement swirling around what could be announced or what details will be revealed and the disappointment of what's absent from these shows. So, for each of the 5 days before the action starts, I'll be sharing what I hope will (and won't) be shown at each of the conferences.

And now for my favorite game company: Nintendo. Despite making excellent game after excellent game (NSLU, Pikmin 3, Mario 3D World, DKC:TF), the Wii U has struggled...until Mario kart 8. The Wii U's first genuine hit has already sold a million copies and plenty of Wii U consoles. Nintendo must capitalize on this momentum, especially after Watch_Dog's lukewarm reception when it finally came out.

1. Zelda U looks like the tech demo

I loooove Wind Waker/HD and it's cel-shading, and one of the things I had no issue with in Skyward Sword was its graphical style. However, those were our last two Zeldas and it's time to return to OoT/MM/TP's style. Dark tone, highly detailed dungeons and a sweeping overworld. And as much as WWHD's extra polish, lightning, etc. made that game even more beautiful, it would be a shame if Nintendo wastes the extra power of the Wii U with another cartoony Zelda game.

2. Metroid, Star Fox, and/or Paper Mario

I give Samus a 90% chance to return, and ~50% chance that she'll appear on both systems. I honestly wouldn't even mind if the Wii U game was 3rd person or even Other M-style (the gameplay was fine), I just need an HD Metroid game. As for the 3DS entry, it would be a 2D or 2.5D and (unfortunately) likely be streamlined like Zero Mission and Fusion.

Star Fox is much less likely, but once again, I just really want to see Nintendo finally make interesting space locales in HD. And please, for the love of Andross, make it SF64 style. Kamiya and Platinum have expressed desire to make one in the past, and they'd be my first choice now that Bayo2 is practically done.

We've got a Paper Mario on each home console since it debuted, and it's been a few years since Sticker Star. That game had a ton of style and great music, but the bare-bones story, dumbed-down battle system and and terrible boss battles disappointed.

3. Smash Bros. fighters don't disappoint

I'm talking about both the fighters in the Invitational and the new ones that are bound to be revealed in the Digital Event. Captain Falcon is a must and I feel like a grass starter will join Charizard and Greninja.

4. 3DS 3rd Party support shines

As of now, the upcoming 3rd Party schedule on 3DS consists of Phoenix Wright vs. Ace Attorney, Theatrhythm: Curtain Call and...eShop games. Square Enix is currently riding the original's success and I foresee Bravely Second being announced. I also wouldn't be surprised if Level-5 shows their next project(s), perhaps a Hershel-less Layton or something new.

And now for the fears...

1. Too much time on Bayo 2, X, and things we already know about

This is a minor fear, since Nintendo doesn't have that much coming up for either system. Sure, it's got some heavy hitters, but not much surrounding them. It would be moronic for Nintendo to linger on X and especially Bayonetta 2, but just two years ago they decided to end their E3 run with Nintendo Land fireworks -_-

Just give me a release date

2. Nintendo ignores indies

Wii U has so many indies coming to the console, it would be a huge mistake if Ninty doesn't capitalize on this fact. A montage could easily last 4 or 5 minutes, but as long as one's featured I'll be happy.

3. NFP disappoints

After listening to the latest NVC, I would totes be okay with the figures unlocking items from their franchise in someone else's. F-Zero tracks in MK8 after scanning Cpt. Falcon's figure would be really cool! However, there's plenty of ways Nintendo could screw this up: if the figurines are too pricey, if their uses are trivial in the games they're used, if their uses are too crucial in the games, etc.

And now for Bonus stuff!

1. The 90-minute 3DS presentation is about Majora's Mask 3D

What could Zelda Williams be doing if it's not something we expect? (Zelda U, Hyrule Warriors) What 3DS game can you talk about for 90 minutes? Well, you could talk about the changes made from the N64 original to the 3DS remake and...yeah. Mainly this prediction is based on the fact that I can't see anything an individual presentation on the scale of Smash Bros. except for MM3D or a new IP.

2. Tomb Raider 2

It's rather likely that Tomb Raider 2 will make an appearance at the show, but whether it's at Microsoft's or Sony's conference, I don't know. I really liked the original, but still would like to see more complex puzzles, catchier music, and maybe a radically different setting/multiple settings.

3. Shadow Of Mordor looks less like Assassin's Creed and Arkham

As much as I think this looks awesome, it's got some things that look really familiar - Arkham style combat, AssCreed "stealth"/climbing mechanics. And the 'Wraith vision' or whatever, looks just like Eagle Vision or Detective Mode.

4. DiRT 4

As you should know, I like racing games. The DiRT series is one of my favorites, and I feel like the 3rd entry struck a good balance between competitive races and traditional rally stages. However, it's been 3 years since we got that game. Give me next-gen graphics, XGames/GRC events against real-life drivers and longer rally stages and you'll have my perfect rally racer.

Whew. Got all my hopes/fears/predictions before the conferences started What do you guys think of my final predictions? Tell me in the comments!

]]>Sun, 08 Jun 2014 14:21:42 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/08/e3-hopes-and-fears-nintendo-more#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/07/e3-hopes-and-fears-sony
It's the most wonderful time of the year...no, not Christmas. E3!!!

There'll be 5 big "conferences" this year, and as usual, I'm anxious to watch every one of them. There's excitement swirling around what could be announced or what details will be revealed and the disappointment of what's absent from these shows. So, for each of the 5 days before the action starts, I'll be sharing what I hope will (and won't) be shown at each of the conferences.

***

Oh...Sony...mmm...Sony. You did everything right in 2013, now don't fuck it up. Nintendo's got some momentum with Mario Kart 8, and if MS has a good showing, their 399 model might provide some real competition.

1. Sly 5

The Sly Cooper series is one of my favorites, up there with DKC, 3D Mario, Smash Bros., and of course, Zelda. In addition, I believe the franchise is criminally underrated and overlooked. Yes, it has a dedicated cult following, but it should have a much larger fanbase: great gameplay, huge variety of missions, fantastic characters, good music and a ton of style.

SPOILERS FOR SLY 4 BELOW

You just can't end they way Sly 4 did and not expect a sequel. Plus, Sony has shown they care about Sly - putting him at the forefront of PS All-Stars' beta/boxart and more importantly, the upcoming movie. Not many people may expect Sly to sneak his way onstage, but it might be more likely than you think.

2. More variety

Just because you have the most indies on consoles (barely; Wii U isn't far behind), doesn't mean you let them provide all your stylish content. It seems like every big PS4 game has a realistic art style. That's cool and all, using the power of the system for detail. But there are other uses for power: defined lines, cool animations, etc.

What games could provide this variety? Ratchet & Clank would be my choice: while it has a cartoony art style, it also emphasizes detail - the best of both worlds. Sly 5 would also do the job well...and, though unlikely, Jak would break up the monotony. Jak would also be a disappointing choice personally, 'cause I'm not too interested in the series, aside from the first entry.

3. Vita games!

The Vita is a cool little handheld, but Sony has treated it poorly. It's got plenty of ports!..that don't perform well (aside from Sly). It's got plenty of indies!..that are already on other systems. It needs some original games, or at the very least, sequels to the few hits it had.

Media Molecule won't be at E3, so it wouldn't be Tearaway 2. But that's okay, because Gravity Rush 2 is already a thing. It's been almost 9 months since we got this brief trailer, so I'd say it's time to see more. In addition, I'd love for God of War or Infamous to find their way to the handheld.

4. WipEout

Mario Kart 8 borrowed F-Zero's anti-gravity track design, so it's not likely that the fastest game in the industry will make a grand appearance. So, it would be awesome if the second fastest racing franchise made its return.

When Sony Liverpool closed, it didn't look good for the storied futuristic racer. But then, late last year, Liverpool was reborn as Firesprite. To quote a IGN commenter, it would be nice to see a new WipEout when the "hip thing today is slow, boring, hyperrealistic racers with lots of microtransactions..."

And now for the fears...

1. Too much time on PS3/things we know plenty about

Driveclub, The Order, Last of Us: Remastered. We know a ton about these games, so I hope they don't spend too much time on them. In addition, while the PS3 still has a couple big titles left, perhaps all they need is a "we haven't forgotten about our 7th gen console like Nintendo and MS" montage.

2. Sony rests on their laurels

Memories ^_^

I'm not talking about sales, they deserve to brag for a minute or two. I'm talking moreso about lack of surprises. PS4/XB1 early adopters are incredibly impatient, and they crave something new to play. As much as I like Uncharted, or love Sly and WipEout, they'd only be sequels. It'd be really cool for Sony to come out with 1 or 2 new IPs alongside company staples.

3. God Of War 4 features Kratos -_-

While people undeservingly lambaste Nintendo for rehashing franchise staples in sequels, GoW is one of the worst offenders in the industry. Part of Ascension's poor reception was due to its stale gameplay, but I will tear my hair out if I see Kratos' ash white face again. You can't even have him start killing Egyption Gods, because...well, how would he go from one culture to another? I can't think of a transition; can you?

3. Sony really did forget about The Last Guardian

The Last Guardian has such a unique art style, and Team ICO games always bring something new to the table. It'd be a damn shame if this doesn't make an appearance.

Welp, they might've cancelled it and this means Team ICO could be working on something new

***

What do you think about my Sony hopes? You think they'll keep their lead? Or perhaps they'll slip this year? Tell me what you think in the comments!

]]>Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:23:19 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/07/e3-hopes-and-fears-sony#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/07/e3-hopes-and-fears-ea
It's the most wonderful time of the year...no, not Christmas. E3!!!

There'll be 5 big "conferences" this year, and as usual, I'm anxious to watch every one of them. There's excitement swirling around what could be announced or what details will be revealed and the disappointment of what's absent from these shows. So, for each of the 5 days before the action starts, I'll be sharing what I hope will (and won't) be shown at each of the conferences.

Now it's time for the company everyone hates, but buys their games anyways...

1. Mirror's Edge gameplay

DIS TRAILER. So much hype, but some gameplay would be even better. I want to see improved combat, more open environments (aka the first half of the original) and some story tidbits that excite, but don't reveal too much.

2. Battlefront gameplay

We saw 30 seconds of this game last year. I'd love for it to get the Battlefield treatment and get a massive on-stage demo, but something on that scale is probably wishful thinking. However, I'd love for the gameplay to continue where the trailer left off: featuring people on the ground, others commanding AT-AT's and a few piloting Snowspeeders in the air.

3. A new Burnout game

Now, I never thought Burnout would make a return, but there's been a few things that may signal its glorious return:

Since Hot Pursuit, Need for Speed sales have declined. Hot Pursuit was incredible, but perhaps its sequels were too similar to the 7th gen classic.

It's been confirmed that no new NFS will be released in 2014. Now, this could mean we're getting a compilation/HD remasters (especially with Need for Speed's twitter using the hashtag #NFS20) but I really doubt EA wants to go a year without something new for racing game fans.

A couple tweets. One where they announce that they've revived Paradise's FAQ page. And another where they confirm that they have a new game that will be shown during EA's press conference. There's a slight chance it'll be something other than a racing game...but racing games are Criterion's bread and butter.

And now for the fears...

1. Too much time on sports games

Last year, they had people

Talk about sports games

Showed a "History of" trailer for 2 of those sports games

Featured a trailer for their sports game engine

AND trailers for the games themselves

Seriously, it's just Madden, Fifa, UFC, and NBA2K: not much will change. Please spend as little time as necessary on these games.

2. More trailers instead of gameplay demos

I'd be really disappointed if Mirror's Edge and Battlefront reappeared, but only got trailers.

Taking the definition of "teaser" very seriously

Like I said, they brought 64 people on-stage for Battlefield 4, you can spend a few minutes with one guy playing a level from Mirror's Edge or a few people in a Battlefront MP match.

3. 'Star Power' -_-

Just...don't do this.

Or this.

Waste of my time and EA's money

***

I actually think this is the first of these blogs where most of you will agree with me, at least with the hopes. Or maybe you disagree: tell me in the comments!

]]>Sat, 07 Jun 2014 10:10:17 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/07/e3-hopes-and-fears-ea#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/05/e3-hopes-and-fears-ubisoft
It's the most wonderful time of the year...no, not Christmas. E3!!!

There'll be 5 big "conferences" this year, and as usual, I'm anxious to watch every one of them. There's excitement swirling around what could be announced or what details will be revealed and the disappointment of what's absent from these shows. So, for each of the 5 days before the action starts, I'll be sharing what I hope will (and won't) be shown at each of the conferences.

I have quite the love/hate relationship with Ubisoft. They have a couple of the best IPs in the world, but would rather focus less on them and pump out yearly Ass-Creed's and (soon) Watch_Dogs. And you can almost guarantee that they'll end their conference with some open-world 3rd-person shooter like the past 2 years.

1. A new Prince of Persia

This is one of those "best IPs" I was referring to. I really like the PoP games, and find them superior to AC in almost every way. PoP's movement system is more elegant and versatile, combat is faster, lacks slow stealth mechanics, contains no tailing missions and does not feature four speeds of movement for no reason.

If the new PoP is 3D, I don't mind if it continues the 2008 reboot or is another 'Sands of Time'-like entry. Both have their pros and cons imo, but if I had to choose, I'd prefer a sequel to the 2008 entry. The environments were gorgeous, the relationship between the Prince and Elika was great, the combat was more methodical but the combos were awesome...it's too bad the only inhabitants they encountered were enemies.

And now there's the rumor that the new PoP game will be 2D and use the UbiArt engine. I was apprehensive at first, but if Rayman doesn't show up, I think a fast-paced, gorgeous 2D PoP could be great.

2. Beyond Good And Evil 2

Six years and this is all we got. But I have a good feeling that we'll see BG&E2 next week, as the developers recently showed of concept art for Jade in a stream. And the fact fans/media keep asking about it. Kinda like that game that got revealed in EA's conference last year...

3. A new Rayman game

This is rather unlikely, as we just had Origins and Legends close together, and the latter hasn't sold too well. But Rayman has made an appearance in each of the last 4 years, so it's not unthinkable for the series to make a 5th consecutive appearance. And since Michel Ancel tends to work on one project at a time, it would like be either BG&E2 or Rayman but not both.

And now for the fears...

1. That none of the above make an appearance

We know that AssCreed Unity/Comet will make appearance, as will Far Cry 4, The Crew and The Division. Plus whatever 3rd person open world game they close the conference with. That doesn't leave much room for other games, so I'm worried that only one or maybe even none of the above will be there.

2. Their new IP will be revealed in the same exact way of the last two

"We have one more thing"

Vague intro video...followed by gameplay demo

Can this please not happen again? Maybe you open with something new this time?

3. The return of this guy

TOM CA-LANCY

***

Well, what do you think about my hopes and fears for Ubisoft? Do you want to see what I want to see? Or maybe you're just fine with seeing the usual AssCreed, Far Cry and 'end-of-show reveal'.

]]>Thu, 05 Jun 2014 18:55:24 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/05/e3-hopes-and-fears-ubisoft#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/06/04/e3-hopes-and-fears-microsoft
It's the most wonderful time of the year...no, not Christmas. E3!!!

There'll be 5 big "conferences" this year, and as usual, I'm anxious to watch every one of them. There's excitement swirling around what could be announced or what details will be revealed and the disappointment of what's absent from these shows. So, for each of the 5 days before the action starts, I'll be sharing what I hope will (and won't) be shown at each of the conferences.

I'll be starting with the conference that falls at the bottom of my excitement hierarchy: Microsoft. I make it very obvious that MS is my least favorite of 'The Big Three', but I still care about their consoles, and will probably own an Xbox One in 3-4 years. I own a 360 and, believe it or not, I actually got it a couple years before my beloved PS3: the console appeared to cost less, and all my friends had one. Little did I know, it would go on to be one of the consoles that collects the most dust in my house.

Oh well, enough ranting, lets get to what I hope to see:

1. Something Different!

Microsoft is the go-to company for all your bro-shooter needs: Halo, Gears, Titanfall (though the rest of the series will be on both XB1 and PS4), CoD and Battlefield DLC first, etc. So what do I want them to make? A 3D platformer! A 2D platformer! A game that puts exploration above action! An action game that doesn't involve guns! Something with color!

Now, Sunset Overdrive is a great start: really colorful, looks like Insomniac got to include exactly what they wanted. But it's not a 1st party game, and while it's a good start, it's nothing compared to the mountain of Dead Rising 3, Ryse, and other gritty gritty games.

2. Forza Horizon 2 refines the experience

Maybe it's because I only played the demo of FH1, but you could only change between cars at events. That's extremely annoying, and seems like a feature that should just be a couple button presses away. From a gameplay perspective, I wouldn't change much. The cars felt a little stiff at high speeds, but that's to be expected.

What I really want more of are Showcase events. Racing against a plane was awesome! I really want to do more of that.

3. Halo 5 isn't even more Metroid-y

Maybe it's the former Retro employees that apparently worked on Halo 4, but man does it and the Prime Trilogy look similar. The designs of the Prometheans resemble Space Pirates and...is that the Thermal visor?

But judging from that new character's design (who looks a lot like Samus, especially in the helmet area), it looks like Guardians will continue to be influenced by the Metroid series. Which is both a good thing and/or a bad thing depending on your point of view. I'm fine with it, I just don't want Halo to borrow too much.

And now for the fears...

1. All the new game announcements/demos lack color but have plenty of guns

You know it's coming with a Microsoft conference, but I don't just want it to be Gears 4 after Gears 4. It'll be bad enough if the announcements are all gritty shooters, but at least have the on-stage demos spice things up. We know that at least a few of them will be CoD or Halo 5 or Battlefield, but I'd love if a different type of game was demoed, even if it's 3rd Party. And despite the awful dialogue, at least the Killer Instinct demo brought some variety to the show last year.

2. There'll be too much of this...

***

Look forward to tomorrow's blog, where I'll be a little more in-depth, since I'll be talking about a games maker I like!

Yeah...that's Gaius, and he's number three of sixteen. Okay, I may be leading those who haven't played SotC astray: I can think of only one Colossus that's taller, but still, most Colossus are deserving of the title "giant". For example, Kuromori can climb a Colosseum with ease and Argus can destroy 50 feet bridges without breaking a sweat.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed coming face to face with these creatures, even when they aren't attacking you (and many won't, unless provoked). But when they do attack, get ready. Some drag you underwater, others pelt you with bolts of poisonous gas. Don't be mistaken as they begin the fight by completely ignoring you, but don't be surprised when others strike as soon as the music starts.

(the real action starts around 2:05)

My favorite fight in the game is featured above. After sending a couple harmless arrows his way, Avion will swoop down at you and you have to jump and cling on if you don't want to get tossed 20 feet. But that's the easy part: in order to take him down, you have to run and climb on his wings while he takes you throughout the arena, doing barrel rolls. It's an exhilarating fight and when he dropped dead into that lake, it was the first time I truly felt bad for these giant monsters I was systematically destroying.

***

The Colossi from Shadow of the Colossus are my favorite group of giant monsters in gaming.

***

Want to be part of the weekly blogs? Check Lost_In_Translation's blog page to find out this week's topic.

]]>Sun, 18 May 2014 19:24:12 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/05/18/giant-monsters-how-about-16-of-em#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/05/11/zrs-favorite-video-game-momer-grandma
Yep, mom's are cool and all, but I couldn't think of many that left a lasting impact on me...until I remembered that sweet old lady from Outset.

Link's Grandma in Wind Waker is awesome. Not only does she single-handedly take care of the Hero Of Winds and his sister, but she also finds time to make the best soup ever. Her soup refills Link's hearts and let's him deal double damage until he gets hurt. With two servings in every bottle, and the fact that it's FREE, grandma's concoction is better than any potion in the game.

For these reasons, Link's Grandma in Wind Waker is my favorite video game mom, even if she doesn't have a name.

(Grandma scene starts at 0:40)

Like my pick? Don't? Leave a comment!

* * *

Want to join in the weekly blog fun?
Check Lost_In_Translation's blog page to find out this week's topic (because this one's almost over).

]]>Sun, 11 May 2014 19:16:37 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2014/05/11/zrs-favorite-video-game-momer-grandma#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/11/27/zrs-top-10-most-anticipated-games-of-2014
The awesome Sayum has tagged me to participate in this tag blog started by the equally awesome Arick.

Rules:

You can only list games that are being released during the year of 2014.

The number of games you list does not matter, but it must be at least 5.

Remakes/rereleases don't count. They must be completely new games (i.e. no HD collections and Wii U/3DS Virtual Console games allowed).

You can tag no more than 3 people at once

Some background info...

I hope to have a PS4 next Fall, but that's no guarantee. However, that doesn't mean I won't buy any PS4 games; in fact, I plan on buying #2's Collector's Edition upon release. I do own a Wii U, and I'm incredibly happy with that decision when I look at the exclusives coming next year. Half of my list is on Wii U, whether you're including Honorable Mentions or not, and 5 of the 7 are exclusive.

Honorable Mentions

Two Brothers

This game is technically out, but only on PC. The game has gotten quite a lot of praise, living up to the hype created by it's trailers. Console versions come out in 2014, and as of this month, developer Ackk Studios is aiming for the Wii U version to be available "early next year".

Driveclub

Supposed to be here on launch day, along with a slimmed down PS Plus version, the game was delayed to 2014. GRID tried to bridge the gap between two types of racing games - simulation and arcade. I liked that, but it didn't work for every game mode GRID had. From what I've seen, Driveclub is trying to meet halfway between simulation and GRID. I think that kind of simulation racer with an arcade edge could be really fun.

FAST Racing League Neo

I played the demo for the original FAST Racing League and liked it, but haven't took the time and money to buy the full game. Shin'en is one of the few developers to create games on Nintendo systems that compete with 1st Party titles in terms of graphical fidelity. Now, while I never put graphics as the most important quality of a video game, I can't help but salivate until a trailer is released. I mean, the in-game image on the teaser site has me drooling already *_*

Mirror's Edge 2

I adored the original, but felt the firefights could've been executed better. It's E3 debut said the game is "Coming...when it's ready", and I'd be surprised if it's not "ready" by the end of 2014.

10. Kirby: Triple Deluxe

The 3DS dominated 2013, and there's no way it'll have as good a showing next year. However, the system won't be giving the Vita any chance at life either; games like Triple Deluxe will make sure of that. Not much has been released outside this trailer, showing some gameplay elements that appear to combine Kirby 64 (enemies attacking from the foreground background) and DKCR (switching between multiple planes).

9. X

This spiritual successor to Xenoblade, a game I have played for a shameful 20 minutes, looks to get everything it can out of the Wii U, much like Xenoblade did with the Wii.

8. Shantae and The Pirate's Curse

Another game that was supposed to come out this year, but with just over a month left, I don't see that happening. My wallet is the only thing happy about that, since this game looks so Metroidvania...mmm...

7. Professor Layton and The Azran Legacy

The game with the longest title on my list is the game that concludes the excellent tales of the puzzle-solving Hershel Layton. I'm sad, but also see the benefit in this - Miracle Mask is just about the best a Prof. Layton game can get; would rather see the series go out at it's best than worst. But for some reason, Americans have to wait until 2014 to experience Hershel's final adventure -_-'

6. Mario Kart 8

I'll say it: Mario Kart 8 is the best-looking game on this list. Yeah, #2 and #3 may have it beat in terms of sheer detail, but MK8 looks so smooth and polished. Not to mention, the F-Zero inspired design along with the best additions from MK7 (customization, underwater/flying sections) could make this the best Mario Kart yet. Could...

5. Bayonetta 2

I love love love love love Bayonetta. The gameplay is fast, fun, and rewards skilled players. The lore is expansive and interesting. The characters are lovable. What does Bayo2 add? The increased scale makes it feel "like you're fighting the last boss from the very beginning".

Sold.

4. Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS

It's Smash Bros., in true HD, with game speed in between Melee (too fast) and Brawl (a little slow)...

3. Transistor

This game blends real-time with turn-based gameplay, takes place in a gorgeous sci-fi setting and is from the people who made Bastion...I think that Jontron clip could be applied here as well ;P

2. InFamous: Second Son

MMM...oh yeah, this game LOOKS GOOD. Seriously, just a few hours with the original and SS shot to #2 on my list. I mean, I was excited before, but after experiencing how fun Sucker Punch's series is...I can't wait to play it's debut on PS4

.

..

...

1. Assassin's Creed V

jk

...

....

.....

......

........

1. DK Country: Tropical Freeze

You may be thinking, "What? This over *insert game everyone's excited for*?!". Yep. DKCR is one of my favorite games and I'm glad Retro took the time to make DKC5 before returning to the Metroid series or whatever they're going to do after TF releases. David Wise is back, the environmental interactivity introduced in DKCR is expanded and there's a larger variety of scenery this time (aka SNOW BITCHES). There's only 1 thing I'm worried about, look closely at that trailer...you see it? That breath gauge when underwater? Yeah, that's never been in a DKC game and is completely unnecessary (the recent Rayman games proved you can have challenging water levels without this).

]]>Wed, 27 Nov 2013 18:18:39 -0800Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/11/27/zrs-top-10-most-anticipated-games-of-2014#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/10/26/new-profile-blog1000-followers-celebration
The original impetus for this blog was Arieces. She's fairly new, and doesn't know many users. She wanted to fix that through blogs/comments. While many wrote comments, Arcterran wrote a blog. In fact, he wrote a profile blog. Remember those from a couple years ago? No? Don't worry, I had forgotten too. Before I could update the one I had back in the day, Jose revived the Profile blog proper. Then I was tagged by Emile.

But if you've read the title, there's a secondary reason I'm writing this blog, I have 1000 followers! When I first joined, I never even intended to participate in the community. But here I am, with 2+ years invested in this place and I don't regret a second.

Also woah August 2011 and 100 followers seem so long ago...

Back then I was entering Senior year of high school. Now I'm very much a college Sophomore...

Gaming Background:I've always loved video games ever since I was little ZR and enjoyed playing N64, SNES and PSX games at various friends' houses and places. I got my first system, a GBA, when I was 7 and loved it. A few years later, I got a PS2 and fell in love it as well as Sly Cooper. The PS2 also fed my racing game addiction even better than the GBA did. A few years after that, My sister got an N64 but it's really mine since she moved out and it's still here. A few years ago, My parents broke down and got our family a Wii, which is greatly under-appreciated in the core gaming world. My 3DS I bought at launch was my very first console entirely with my own money. Next I bought a PS3, of which I have way too many games to play. And then I just bought a Wii U, which is looking to become yet another under-appreciated console.

Style: I used to be more nitpicky, had less control over my nerdiness, and had a shorter fuse when I was younger. This caused quite a few awkward moments. However, I've started to care less about what others think of me, and in doing so, have actually made more/better friends in college than high school.

MyIGN Crush: I don't really have one, especially since 1) there are only a few people close to my age that I know, and even less that are girls 2) the chances of meeting any of you in real life is unfortunately astronomical.

But I just want to say R-Money is extremely sexy

Hobbies: I wish I could say blogging, but I haven't done much of that lately. However; I do find myself listening to a lot more music than I used to.

Fetishes: Girls that aren't twigs or elephants, and can think for themselves.

Pets: none of my own, but I love my sister's dogs...well, I love one, the other's a lunatic.

James: My first "big" follower, never thought you'd be more than that. Glad that didn't turn out to be the case; you're fun to talk to and have great taste in music.

Gabby: Another user with good musical taste, also an early friend before she got thousands of followers of her own. Makes a point to reply to comments on her blogs, which I really appreciate. Now she just needs to blog more...

Jono: A fellow Nintendo fan, few know my Tourney pain like this man. I just wish he branched out to Sony/third parties more.

Anthony: You're tied for the greatest ginger I know. Extremely funny, outgoing, talented and modest almost to a fault. Probably the first friend from MyIGN that I got to know outside of MyIGN, probably my best friend from here too

Bob: Oh boy, we've had quite the friendship. Started strong, then with the aid of our initially differing opinions on Skyward Sword along with your overwhelmingly negative general outlook on Nintendo at the time, I could barely stand to see your username. Over time, my opinion on SS changed and while that didn't re-establish our friendship, it didn't hurt either. I've learned to not take everything you say so seriously, because, after all, you're quite the troll.

Jarred: You're a lot like Bob, meaning the strength of our friendship has fluctuated just like Bob's. Other than that, I love talking about music with you and Emile, and our joint listening of RAM is a memory I will cherish.

Jones: JONES. You're hilarious, love Korra and Pixar like myself, and tend not to push your opinions on others, even when they're totally right ;p

R-Money: We may butt heads every once in a while, but your fondness of Hot Pursuit and Aladdin prevents me from staying mad for too long.

Emile: An early friend thanks to our "Zelda____" usernames, we share similar taste in music and have enjoyed many enjoyable conversations on Skype, but not recently.

Crista: Your love of FE is admirable, always the first person I ask when I have a question about the games.

Kallie: The other person tied for greatest ginger ever. Don't see your cute face around here much, but that's because you're off doing bigger, better things.

Sam: Used to be really good friends, but his Dante and Tourney role have created a temporary divide.

Geoff: Fun to talk to, friendly as Hell, plays more games than I can dream of playing.

Blair: I may have more followers, I may be more active, I may play a wider variety of games, and I may be the reason you're here, but I don't think I'll ever reach your popularity in this place. And by that, I mean Measure 52. Only my best friend will get that reference

There are many more users I'd love to highlight for being part of the 1000+ that have chose to follow me, but this blog is long enough as it is.

]]>Sat, 26 Oct 2013 12:25:15 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/10/26/new-profile-blog1000-followers-celebration#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/09/20/thy-next-foe-isits-a-me-mario
Super Mario World was one half of my foray into gaming. I got it along with Mario Kart: Super Circuit when I opened my GBA on Christmas morning. I fell in love.

The music, the gameplay, the variety, the content. It's...it's sublime. It's god-like. IT'S GOOOOOOOOD. Just when you think they won't add a new gameplay concept BAM! they do. First you're just going through levels by yourself, maybe shootin' some fireballs, then with Yoshi, then with capes, then with multi-colored Yoshis that all add something worthwhile to the gameplay.

You go from your standard left to right, 'goalpost at the end' levels to Fortresses & Castles that end in bosses (Castles even get cute cutscenes afterwards), Ghost Houses with doors that seemingly lead you in circles and special Star Road levels where the secret exit is the only way to progress. Think you're done? NOPE. Here's a Special World, which includes insanely challenging levels with radical names.

I played it endlessly, even after beating all the levels and going through every secret exit. Don't believe me? My original file still has 995+ lives on it to this day.

Yeah.

Shadow of the Colossus, on the other hand, is a more recent fave. I adore SotC, from it's epic music and gameplay to it's purposefully clunky controls. moral ambiguity and impeccable atmosphere.

This game has produced feelings that few others have, and is an unforgettable experience from the moment you hit start until the end credits finish. For example: hanging onto a giant bird and it proceeds to perform barrel (Aileron) rolls while this plays:

There's only two things I don't like about it - a couple of the Colossi are downright tedious and texture pop-in/clipping occurs too frequently. That's basically the difference in the way they're ranked in my list of favorite games and the main factor in deciding which game to vote for in this match.

I know it seems like I wrote a lot more for Super Mario World in comparison to SotC, but part of what makes SotC so great is indescribable, and can only be felt by playing the game itself.

]]>Fri, 20 Sep 2013 20:49:28 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/09/20/thy-next-foe-isits-a-me-mario#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/08/01/zrs-myign-music-blog
So, DR_ACULA's got this collaborative music blog project going on right now. He brought up the point that music blogs around here have been scare lately, and I have to agree. I mean, I had planned for a music blog series of my own, but have only got around to making one entry. I'm hoping this blog will inspire me to continue that series.

But that's for the future, as for this blog, DR_ACULA has given us the Herculean task of picking our 3 favorite songs...or 3 songs that come to mind. I decided to go with the former and it wasn't easy. Dozens of songs came to my mind and I can't really say that these are my #1, #2 and #3, but they are 3 of my favorites...I also included plenty of honorable mentions because I love so many songs :3

The Who - 'Who are you'

Unfortunately, the album version of this song is not on the Youtubez. I feel like the album version accentuates all the right instruments at the right times whereas this studio version doesn't x_x

Foo Fighters - 'Everlong'

Dave Grohl's a genius, the Foo Fighters are the best rock group ever.

Chicago - 'Make Me Smile/Now More than ever'

Dis song, it really does make me smile and I love how it ebbs and flows; no part of this song isn't enjoyable.

PSVita (Wishlist)

PS4 (Wishlist)

]]>Mon, 29 Jul 2013 21:15:18 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/07/29/zrs-favorite-games-for-each-system#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/06/22/zrs-thoughts-on-e3-2013-part-2-favorite-games-the-future
As I made quite clear in my Conference Reviews, I wasn't impressed by much. Didn't hurt that the majority of games shown, especially in M$'s conference, were shooters of the modern/near future and of a gritty, realistic tone. These are a type of game that I have absolutely no interest in. What is my genre of choice? Racing. And while some of you got tired of seeing "so many" of them, it was a necessary change as the genre had been getting narrower and narrower... No thanks to the numerous, formerly great, racing developers shutting down (Bizzare, Blackrock, Studio Liverpool, etc.).

It was astonishing difficult to narrow it down to 6. When people came out of E3 saying it was "the best one in years" or "we may never have another E3 as good as this one", I shrugged those sentiments off...at first. Now, I'm starting to agree, regardless if you're a Nintendo, Playstation, Xbox, or Hell, even an EA fan, this E3 was one for the ages...

Honorable Mentions

Honestly, around 30 or 40 games deserve mentioning, just an indicator of the sheer number of great-looking games this year. Of the shooters on display; Titanfall, Sunset Overdrive, Destiny and The Order: 1886 all look to shake up the genre. As for platformers Knack, Tearaway (only upcoming Vita game that I have any interest in), Puppeteer, Sonic: Lost World (both versions), and Rayman Legends caught my eye, but not enough for the top 5. The RPGs I want to highlight are X, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Pokemon X & Y and Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Finally, the action games: InFamous: Second Son, Mirror's Edge 2(?), and the Platinum Games Wii U exclusives (Bayonetta 2 and Wonderful 101).

6. Driveclub

Honestly, I wasn't excited for this game until I saw the E3 demo, which confirmed a 3rd-person view; I was under the impression that the game was cockpit/1st person only but now that it's not, I look forward to buying it along with a PS4 in 2014/15.

5. Need for Speed: Rivals

Yet another game I was wary about at first, because the onstage demo was really serious and gritty - not your usual NFS fare and certainly not what I want from an NFS game. However, the screenshots and floor demo have made me think that those dark, stormy races will be a once-in-a-while event, much like previous games *whew*

4. Transistor

The gorgeous art style, wonderful blend of turn-based and real-time RPG combat along with its chilling OST make it my most-anticipated PS4 game.

3. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Yeah, the trailer that showed off the expansion of DKCR's interactive, dense environments with David Wise's compositional expertise on full display did get me excited, but this Developer Direct got me even more excited, and will be the main reason I get a Wii U this year.

2. Mario Kart 8

Boy oh boy, I never thought the next home console Mario Kart would look better than the next home console 3D Mario game, but that's the reality we live in. When you combine the better elements from 7 (customization, gliding, underwater segments) with Wii (bikes, huge roster) while adding anti-gravity (admittedly, more of an aesthetic change than a mechanical one)

...well, it gives MK8 the potential to be the best Mario Kart yet.

1. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS

Speaking of being the best entry in its series, SSBU/3DS looks to do the same. It's literally doing everything right: game looks beautiful, new characters have decidedly unique movesets, speed between Melee (too fast) & Brawl (a little slow), and NO TRIPPING.

My gaming future

You know, after the initial disappointment; mainly due to the lack of Star Fox/Metroid/F-Zero, I realized that Nintendo's E3 Direct and overall..."presence" was actually really good and puts them in a good position for this Fall/Holiday. Nintendo showcased their best-selling franchises with most in playable form - Pokemon, 3D Mario, Mario Kart, DK Country and Smash Bros. While also having quirky titles (Pikmin 3, X, Bayonetta 2, The Wonderful 101) highlighted as well. That, along with decent 3rd Party support (Rayman Legends, Watch_Dogs, AC4) and a competitive price point - still $100 cheaper than a PS4 when you consider PS+ (50/year) is required for multiplayer. A good position, but one that could be better: 2 of those best-selling franchises won't arrive until 2014 (Mario Kart and Smash Bros.) and the next-gen consoles' release will get more general fanfare even though Wii U's getting just as many, if not more, games; certainly more exclusives. But it's clear Nintendo thinks 3D Mario and Mario Kart can reinvigorate Wii U sales, and while I think it will to a degree, I don't see a 3DS-sized spike happening.

Before I get to my home console plans, my 3DS is simply getting too many games over the next year. Not only have I not been able to play NSMB2 and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, but soon Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Pokemon Y, Yoshi's New Island and even Zelda: A Link Between Worlds will pass me by Now, I will buy/play them eventually, possibly next Spring (when I'm not playing MK8), but I don't plan on getting any of these titles on their release dates.

I hinted at my plans throughout my list (and last night in hyper's blog), but to elaborate: I will be purchasing a Wii U in late September or early October. Perhaps later if I decide to wait for a deal or something. I'll be doing this so I can play New Super Luigi U, Rayman Legends, Wind Waker HD, DKC: Tropical Freeze and 3D World by the end of the year. I'll also be getting NSMBU and Wonderful 101 as well; W101 when it goes down to 30 or 40 bucks. After that, I'll have plenty to play in 2014 on it too - Mario Kart 8, Bayonetta 2, Smash Bros., X and lots of eShop games (Two Brothers, Shovel Knight, Earthbound, etc.). As for the other next-gen consoles, I'll be purchasing a PS4 at some point, most likely in 2014 or 2015. Reason being only 4 games (Transistor, Knack, Driveclub, KH3) are "must-plays" for me and one of them (KH3) probably won't arrive 'til 2015 anyways. Not to mention, the PS4 is likely to be 300 or 350 at that point As for the Xbox One, I might get one used towards the end of the 8th gen so I can play Sunset Overdrive, Titanfall and the Halo saga.

So, what were your favorite games of the show? I told you my plans, how about yours? Tell me in the comments below!

MS didn't lie: they did save the games for E3. However, the majority of them were shooters and/or gritty. I mean, I thought Dead Rising was a colorful and campy franchise? Not brown, brown and brown. Killer Instinct was sorta cool, even if I don't play traditional fighters. But yet again, they make the questionable (at best) decision of applying a Free-to-pay model where you get ONE character for free...ugh.

At some point, they talked about the fact "nobody has been more committed to independent game developers" than them. How'd they prove it? An XB1 version of Minecraft and Below ... my reaction was to literally lmao. Sony and Nintendo's indie support is miles ahead, and the main reason: self-publishing. MS doesn't allow it, and it hurts them.

As for positives, Sunset Overdrive's CGI teaser was crazy and made the game look ambitious and really fun, the Halo teaser was clever and the Twitch partnership gives XB1's streaming a distinct advantage over PS4's streaming capabilities.

The conference had plenty of games, but as someone who doesn't play many shooters and wants color instead of QTES and/or grittiness, I found 3 compelling games (Sunset Overdrive, Halo, Below). Add that to the $499 price tag, online check ups and other restrictions:

Final Grade: D-

EA

Wow. Opening with PvZ: Garden Warfare was shocking, but perhaps more shocking was the fact the game looked really fun! BUT DEN:

A decent-looking shooter was shown off next, followed by the teaser that single-handedly changed the internet's view on EA: Battlefront. Can't wait to see what DICE has in store for us. NFS: Rivals' gameplay debuted, looks like the perfect mix of Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted. While the on-stage demo made me worried the game would take a darker tone, my fears were alleviated with the floor demos. Dragon Age III got a cool teaser, that's something for DA fans, I guess.

Then the overly long sports section happened and provided me my main gripe with EA's conference. Seriously, 20 MINUTES OF SPORTS.

Taking the sports and yet another lengthy demo of BF4 into consideration (regardless of how impressive the 64-player match was)...

Final Grade: B-

Ubisoft

After having the best E3 conference of 2012, by far, Ubisoft had their work cut out for them and....they disappointed.

Beginning the show was....a long demo of Rocksmith 2014. Whee -_- Then, 3 games in a row that we already know about, with one in beta and another with an extensive Wii U demo. Finally, we found out The Crew was real. It's pretty cool, nice to see some competition in the racing genre, a genre that desperately needed it. And then: more Watch_Dogs, more Just Dance, Rabbids *yawn*, more AC4, and Trials, which is a franchise I'd really like to play - glad it's coming to a Sony system this time.

But wait, there's more! However, the "more" was not something BG&E related, even though Ubisoft promoted their conference on facebook with a BG&E character. No...instead, we got The Division, revealed using the exact same format as Watch_Dogs. Except this time, I don't care. The Division is yet another gritty shooter, like we need another one of those.

Final Grade: F

Sony

Started with a pretty long PS3 reel, and then the console was revealed. I really like the look of it, but I know a lot of people didn't for some reason. Things got a little scary when TV took over for a bit. However, when it was time for the games, they didn't disappoint. New IP "The Order: 1886" debuted with a cool trailer and more info from games featured in the February Reveal were highlighted.

Sony then took the time to show why they're the real leader in Indie support with SIX ON STAGE DEMOS. In fact, Transistor is my most-anticipated PS4 game.

A little while later, Square Enix finally had worthwhile things to say with their impressive trailer for FF15, formerly known as 13-Versus, and I swear I could hear fans rejoicing in the distance when KH3 got teased.

Then, still more AC4 (first trailer of the game to pique my interest, too bad it was laggy) and Watch_Dogs (we already know it's cool, you don't need a demo in every other conference). Lebron's freaky face was up next with ESO and Mad Max providing the lead-up to Tretton's destruction of Microsoft's bullsh!t policies.

So this is how Microsoft dies: with thunderous applause

After that, Sony slipped in the fact you need PS Plus to play online portions of games. Ouch. Even though PS Plus is a much better service than Live while also being $10 cheaper (per year), Nintendo is now the only one of 'The Big 3' that doesn't require you to pay for online.

Closing off the show was a lengthy demo of Destiny, which made it look like a realistic, MMO-ish Borderlands. Not exactly a bad quality, merely an observation. In fact, Sony's Conference had few bad qualities aside from the slow start, lack of Vita (Tearaway is still the only upcoming game that interests me anyways), TV talk and PS+ being all but required.

Final Grade: B+

Nintendo

They took an unconventional approach to E3 2013, using Nintendo Direct(s) to replace the usual press conference. Personally, I'm a big fan of Directs. However, I was (and still am) unsure if it was the right way to go. Either way, let's discuss its ups and downs.

Starting off with Pokemon was an odd choice, but highlighting the Fairy type was welcomed. Dragon finally has a third weakness...FINALLY. Then, 4-player 3D World happened. Much like 3D Land, I already have a love-hate relationship with it. I love the fact you can choose between 4 players that all play differently and the fact Peach isn't being kidnapped (side note: Fire Peach looks awesome). But I hate that it looks like 3D Land - not because 3D Land was horrible, in fact, its second half was amazing! Rather, the next 3D Mario represents what a Nintendo console is capable of...3D World is not that representation.

But then, something truly innovative - Mario Kart has been combined with F-Zero! No seriously, this is awesome. Not only is the game stunningly gorgeous, but the anti-gravity sections look so cool and manage to give a whole new dimension to branching paths/shortcuts, literally. Kart customization and gliding/underwater sections are back from 7, no qualms here. Then Wii Party U *yawn* and a pretty pathetic 3rd Party sizzle reel. Followed by a relatively impressive eShop sizzle reel (though Indie support is even larger than it shows).

Wind Waker HD looks like how WW was meant to be (kinda like OoT 3D being how OoT was meant to be). W101 looks as good as ever, and now for the bombshell Retro game... Donkey Kong! No one complained when Metroid Prime got two sequels, but try to make a sequel to another great game by Retro and the internet flips out. Seriously, the game looks phenomenal; an expansion on the ideas in DKCR now with underwater+snow levels (levels sorely missing from DKCR) and 2 new playable characters. I agree with Retro's sentiment that they had "unfinished business" because they totally did.

Bayonetta 2 followed and displayed why it has no place on a Nintendo system - action that brings new meaning to "over the top", extreme violence, and an extremely sexualized & badass female protagonist. Perhaps that's why I want to play it so badly

X took the stage next. Another beautiful game with incredible scope, not unlike Xenoblade, its predecessor.

Over a million views already; one of the most-watched E3 trailers

Delivering an epic end to the Direct was the excellent debut of Smash Bros. Both versions look awesome, game speed between Melee and Brawl is exactly what I want, no tripping (also what I want), MEGAMAN!!!, Animal Crossing finally gets a representative and Wii Fit Trainer was a puzzling addition...until I saw her in action.

Their 3DS support is also substantial, despite only Pokemon (and SSB3D) making an appearance in the main Direct. ALBW is the top-down Zelda I've been yearning for, Yoshi's New Island has a terrible name, but looks leaps and bounds better than the SNES entry (for example, the flutter jump actually looks useful). Dream Team looks quite inventive, and will likely be much better than Mario's other RPG series' entry on 3DS.

Final Grade: B-

So, for me:

Sony

EA/Nintendo

Microsoft

Ubisoft

Honestly, like a Twitter user alluded to; Nintendo was a "Metroid" or "Zelda U" away from an excellent conference. EA could've had a chance if it wasn't for the long sports section. Microsoft's bought lots of games, but too many shooters and the console is terrible and terribly overpriced. Ubisoft was disappointing in every way. In the end, PS4's price tag and focus on gamers gave them the win.

But what did you think? I'm sure many, if not all, disagree with my final rankings. But I've told you why I ranked them that way; tell me how you ranked 'em (and why) in the comments.

]]>Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:50:39 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/06/15/zrs-thoughts-on-e3-part-1-fashionably-late-conference-reviews#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/06/07/wii-us-eshop-an-unknown-indie-haven-spoilers-yes
While the Wii U's eShop had a decent amount of support when it launched, with games like Trine 2: Director's Cut leading the charge, the floodgates have opened. It seems like every other day a game is either announced for the platform or the Wii U is added as a stretch goal, featured on numerous ongoing/successful Kickstarters. Before I starting hitting you with the long list of great-looking games, why is this happening? Or more specifically: why is this happening now? Well, Nintendo used to require an office space in order to publish your game on their digital service, but now you can self-publish.

In addition, I decide to write this blog for 2 primary reasons:

I found out two more games were confirmed for Wii U releases today

IGN seems to ignore the eShop's existence when it comes to game announcements; only a third of these can be "followed" on Wii U, and most aren't their database at all

Let's begin the 12-game list with the 2 I just found out about:

QUBE and Tengami

QUBE is a first-person puzzle game that released on PC/Mac in early 2012. As you can read for yourself in this preview from Official Ninintendo Magazine, shared by QUBE's creator, QUBE will not only be coming to a console for the first time, but it will be a Director's Cut of the game. The DC will have a new story, new music, new puzzles and an added time trial mode. Hopefully these additions will make it a little more appealing than the original release, which has a 69/100 average on Metacritic. Tengami is another puzzler, but the ex-Rare developers say it's more about the experience than anything else, and the art style looks beautiful.

90's Arcade Racer

If you like arcade racers, and I do mean physical arcade racers, then this game is for you. The team's Kickstarter even talks about getting inspiration from the likes of Virtua Racing and Daytona USA. The game's only got 6 tracks and 3 cars, but hopefully it'll be balanced out by the pick-up-and-play mentality and I expect a low price point. The game's Wii U version will be published by Nicalis.

Armillo: The Parallel Universe Mystery

This maze game is the first from Fuzzy Wuzzy Games, and it looks...uh, very interesting.

Festival of Magic

Once again, I'm going to let this early trailer do the talking for Snowcastle's upcoming RPG.

...

You watch it? Has some potential amirite?

Rex Rocket, Blossom Tales

Rex Rocket is another Kickstarted game making it's way to the eShop. I think Nintendo Life's quote describes it best:

"The shoot'n'scoot gameplay of Mega Man and Cave Story, mashed with the exploration and item upgrades found in Metroid" - Nintendo Life

Blossom Tales is the studio's next project, and as long as RR does well, it'll be making it to Ninty's platforms as well. It's inspired by The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, but aside from that along with a few screenshots, not much is known

I also have a personal pull for this dev's endeavors as he lives in Pittsburgh, which is less than an hour drive from my home.

DuckTales Remastered

Wayforward is one of, if not the best and most well-known developer on Nintendo's digital services. For good reason too: from the "Mighty" series to Shantae, they make excellent games. Their remake for DuckTales looks poised to join the Wayforward hall of greatness. And while this game is decidedly less indie than the others, I can't help but add it to the list.

C-Wars

C-Wars was an extremely successful kickstarter that reached all of its stretch goals, and while I'm a little wary that the game might be adding a little too much depth to it's gameplay, I'm still very excited to play this game when it eventually releases.

Two Brothers

As you can see, Two Brothers resembles Top-down Zelda games as well as classic RPGs. Add that to the phenomenal-sounding OST they've been regularly teasing on their soundcloud and you get my most-anticipated game of this whole list.

Shovel Knight

Aside from DuckTales, this is the game I expect most of you to already know about as it made it's way around multiple popular youtube channels, including Game Grumps, as the Kickstarter was coming to a close. Everything about this game is from the 8-bit era, but not only is it simply from that era, it embodies some of the very best it has to offer.

A Hat in Time

Okay, maybe I lied: this might be the most recognizable game on this list - it has decimated its original goal on Kickstarter and is on track to do so well that its highest stretch goal, Grant Kirkhope (Rare composer) making a song for the game, will likely be fulfilled.

I hope you guys found some games you're interested in or at least dismissed the notion that the Wii U will be another Nintendo console where 95% of the worthwhile games are 1st party.

And if you did discover a game or two that you're interested in: tell me what it is in the comments!

]]>Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:26:43 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/06/07/wii-us-eshop-an-unknown-indie-haven-spoilers-yes#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/06/01/racers-songs-on-repeat-gatsby-what-gatsby
I've been meaning to start this blog series for a while... As you might've been able to tell from my 100 favorite themes list, I'm a huge fan of video game music. However, that doesn't mean I'm not fond of more radio-friendly music. In fact, I often go on binges of certain artists and albums. These binges are what inspired me to do this very blog series, starting with the OST for The Great Gatsby.

I actually bought the Soundtrack CD a couple weeks before going to see the film. It's very interesting to have that perspective going into the film as well as afterwords when the OST's appearances have retroactively effected my view on certain songs. For example, a few of the sluggish songs that I'd often skip over ("Where the wind blows", "Back to Black") were, to my delight, used sparingly in the actual film. Unfortunately, on the other hand, my personal favorite track had its intro, and only its intro, placed in a rather unfitting moment in the film and never got to expand and build into the latter portions of the song that make it so powerful and noteworthy.

And now, here are the songs from The Great Gatsby's OST that I keep in the queue:

5. 'Young and beautiful' - Lana Del Ray

Surprisingly profound with a haunting delivery

4. 'A little party never killed nobody' - Fergie, Q Tip, Goonrock

Does a fantastic job of capturing the reckless abandon & luxurious nature of Gatsby's extravagant parties

3. 'Hearts A Mess' - Gotye

Apparently the song is used in the credits, what a waste

2. 'Over the Love' - Florence and the Machine

Oh my lord, dat build-up and sensational vocals from Welch...

...and yet the only the first 45 sec is in the film -_-

1. 'Love is Blindness' - Jack White

Not only is White's cover well-done, it's put to deft use in the movie

So what'd you guys think of the soundtrack? My picks? Leave a comment with your thoughts!

]]>Sat, 01 Jun 2013 20:38:49 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/06/01/racers-songs-on-repeat-gatsby-what-gatsby#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/05/14/zrs-favorite-vg-music-10-1-the-grand-finale
Everyone knows how important music is to video games - it can be the delicious icing on top of a cake layered with great gameplay or... it can be a flavorless piece of lettuce on top of an otherwise good sandwich.

^I'll miss copy-and-pasting that paragraph ^

Well, here we are: more than 6 months after I posted the honorable mentions, this list will finally come to a close. Hours and hours have went into creating the master list as well as making the blogs to house each section of the list. While it was a considerable amount of work, it was worth it and I can't wait to share my 10 favorite video game themes with you, but just in case you've missed any...

So serene, a song you can really lose yourself in...and never want to come out

7. Brinstar (Red Soil) - Super Metroid

A song that oozes atmosphere while still managing a seriously memorable melody

6b. Bramble Blast - Donkey Kong Country 2/Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Both versions are somber, reflective and leave a lasting impression

6a. Gerudo Valley - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/3D

Yeah, yeah, yeah, some of you (in the Skype group) already know how I messed this up:

During the reorganization of my master list, whoops...

But at least I caught the mistake so this wonderful theme wouldn't be tragically left out

5. Kraid's Lair - Metroid

The best 8-bit theme ever made...in my opinion

4. Hidden Village - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Gotta love that intro, as well as the rest of the song

3. The Opened Way - Shadow of the Colossus

*climbs onto Colossus, this theme starts*

the rest is history...

2. Windmill Hut - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/3D

Sometimes the simplest themes can be the best, but this falls one short of that title...

1. Gusty Garden Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy

Much like Magnus's Theme: this track ebbs and flows perfectly,

its sweeping orchestration producing a sense of adventure like no other song can

DISCLAIMER: In no way is copyright infringement intended, all themes' rights go to their respective owners. I believe the awesome people at TheOSTation (youtube channel) say it best, "The sharing of VGM does not destroy the video game industry, as it does indeed help it grow."

AND THERE GOES THE BLOG SERIES!

Now seriously, I can't thank you guys enough for the consistent comments and support, especially from the likes of Crista, C-Mish, MS, Anthony and the others that regularly fill the comment section below

And while it's been a long and often tedious journey, I look forward to revising my list over the course of the year and re-posting said revised list (that will be the correct 100 and not accidentally 101...) over Christmas Break. Which also means yes; it won't take another 6 months for me to post the list

]]>Tue, 14 May 2013 12:21:09 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/05/14/zrs-favorite-vg-music-10-1-the-grand-finale#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/05/09/zrs-favorite-vg-music-20-11-hoo-dang
Everyone knows how important music is to video games - it can be the delicious icing on top of a cake layered with great gameplay or... it can be a flavorless piece of lettuce on top of an otherwise good sandwich.

20. Dire Dire Docks - Super Mario 64

Starts off calm and beautiful, ends with a driving beat while remaining beautiful

19. Halberd - Kirby's Epic Yarn

I know some people don't like the piano-heavy stylings of Epic Yarn's OST, but I absolutely love it!

18. Magnus's Theme - Kid Icarus: Uprising

A track that ebbs and flows perfectly, may end up even higher as the years go by..

17. Astral Observatory - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

The happy tones belie the impending doom hinted by the descending melody and background elements

This beautiful melody accompanies you through one of the most memorable parts of my favorite game

11. Nowhere to Run/Chasing a Dream - Rayman Origins

The daunting first half (Nowhere to Run) and triumphant second half (Chasing a Dream) perfectly fit the grueling and immensely rewarding final level of Rayman Oranges

DISCLAIMER: In no way is copyright infringement intended, all themes' rights go to their respective owners. I believe the awesome people at TheOSTation (youtube channel) say it best, "The sharing of VGM does not destroy the video game industry, as it does indeed help it grow."

Unfortunately, TheOSTation's account is currently suspended on youtube, apparently certain companies disagreed with their view on video game music. This is not the first time this channel has been suspended, so hopefully they'll come back again to provide us with a place to listen to high-quality uploads of beautiful OSTs like that of Shadow of the Colossus.

Anyways, here we are, 90 themes down and a mere 10 to go...I don't have much to say besides that; the sappy write-up is saved for next time
As always, leave a comment with your thoughts below.

]]>Thu, 09 May 2013 14:22:32 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/05/09/zrs-favorite-vg-music-20-11-hoo-dang#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/05/06/zrs-favorite-vg-music-30-21-the-2-lyrical-songs-are-herebut-what-are-they
Everyone knows how important music is to video games - it can be the delicious icing on top of a cake layered with great gameplay or... it can be a flavorless piece of lettuce on top of an otherwise good sandwich.

30. Snake Eater - Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

I'M STILL IN A DREAM, SNAKE EATERRRRRRRR

29. King Bowser - Super Mario Galaxy

Yet another reason Galaxy 1 is better

28. Fear Factory/Returns - Donkey Kong Country/Returns

dat intro, then driving melody *_*

Thanks again, Retro Studios

27. Orchestral Piece 2 - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Sometimes I wouldn't start the game just so I could hear this during the demo movie

26. Pushing Onwards - VVVVVV

I've died hundreds of times in this game, but kept going because of this song*

...

*possible exaggeration

25. Layton's Theme - Professor Layton and the Curious Village

An excellent theme is a mark of a true gentleman

24. Still Alive - Portal

no comment necessary

23. Koopa's Road - Super Mario 64

One of the first themes to leave a lasting impact on my gaming life,

it'll always hold a special place

22. Lost Woods - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/3D

Simple but infectious

21. Opening Theme - Pokemon Red and Blue

One of the most recognizable themes from any medium

DISCLAIMER: In no way is copyright infringement intended, all themes' rights go to their respective owners. I believe the awesome people at TheOSTation (youtube channel) say it best, "The sharing of VGM does not destroy the video game industry, as it does indeed help it grow."

Unfortunately, TheOSTation's account is currently suspended on youtube, apparently certain companies disagreed with their view on video game music. This is not the first time this channel has been suspended, so hopefully they'll come back again to provide us with a place to listen to high-quality uploads of beautiful OSTs like that of Shadow of the Colossus.

And with that, there's only 20 themes left. Has your favorite theme made an appearance yet? Perhaps it was in this section? Tell me in the comments!

]]>Mon, 06 May 2013 12:32:16 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/05/06/zrs-favorite-vg-music-30-21-the-2-lyrical-songs-are-herebut-what-are-they#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/04/22/zrs-favorite-vg-music-40-31-more-variety-more-awesome
Everyone knows how important music is to video games - it can be the delicious icing on top of a cake layered with great gameplay or... it can be a flavorless piece of lettuce on top of an otherwise good sandwich.

40. Main Theme - Motoheroz

Unfortunately, the Motoheroz OST hasn't been uploaded, so this trailer's music will have to do (it's close enough)

39. Menu Theme - Warioware: Mega Microgames

Thanks, 3DS Ambassador Program

38. One Final Effort - Halo 3

*pssst* I haven't even played this game...

37. Flower Fields - Kirby's Epic Yarn

This song feels like...PANTS (>^_^)>

36. Menu - Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves

Dat muted trumpet

35. Deku Palace - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

"Aha! An intruder!"

34. Potential for Anything - VVVVVV

Chip-tunes don't get much better than this

33. Castle - Super Mario World

Menacing. Oppressive. Unrelenting. And....really, really catchy

32. Fairy's Fountain - The Legend of Zelda series

There's just something about the OoT/MM version that makes it my favorite, but I can't quite say what exactly...

31. Star Wolf - Star Fox: Assault

The best thing to come from Assault? Probably.

DISCLAIMER: In no way is copyright infringement intended, all themes' rights go to their respective owners. I believe the awesome people at TheOSTation (youtube channel) say it best, "The sharing of VGM does not destroy the video game industry, as it does indeed help it grow."

Only 2 Zelda themes in this section, pretty sure that's a new low!

But seriously, this is where the list starts to branch out to many different series, generations and consoles. So while Zelda may dominate this list as a whole, it's not the only series (in my opinion) that can make some seriously memorable music.

]]>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:35:07 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/04/22/zrs-favorite-vg-music-40-31-more-variety-more-awesome#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/04/05/zrs-favorite-vg-music-50-41-nintendo-nintendo-nintendo-ooooohhh-sega-and-sonynintendo-nintendo
Everyone knows how important music is to video games - it can be the delicious icing on top of a cake layered with great gameplay or... it can be a flavorless piece of lettuce on top of an otherwise good sandwich.

50. Menu - Metroid Prime

Thanks Retro Studios

49. Hyrule Castle - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past/WW/TP

It's amazing what they could do with that SNES sound chip: proof above^^

This version's eerie, appropriate for the world beneath the sea

The build-up throughout Hyrule Castle is perfectly paced, thanks in large part to the evolving theme

DISCLAIMER: In no way is copyright infringement intended, all themes' rights go to their respective owners. I believe the awesome people at TheOSTation (youtube channel) say it best, "The sharing of VGM does not destroy the video game industry, as it does indeed help it grow."

WOOOOOOooooooooOOOOOaaaaaAAAAAaaaahhhhhhhh two sections of the list up in one week?! That always never happens.

Well guys, the last ten themes got an overwhelming positive reaction, how about these ones?

]]>Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:41:13 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/04/05/zrs-favorite-vg-music-50-41-nintendo-nintendo-nintendo-ooooohhh-sega-and-sonynintendo-nintendo#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/03/31/zrs-favorite-vg-music-60-51-this-list-is-still-going-on
Everyone knows how important music is to video games - it can be the delicious icing on top of a cake layered with great gameplay or... it can be a flavorless piece of lettuce on top of an otherwise good sandwich.

60. Vs. King Dedede - Kirby's Epic Yarn

DAT TRUMPET

59. Rainbow Road - Mario Kart 64

Ohai childhood T_T

58. Paris - Sly 2: Band of Thieves

Stealthy and full of tension, a perfect theme to get you ready for a heist

Both themes have their merits and I couldn't put one up without the other

55. Fountain of Dreams - Super Smash Bros. Melee

Every time I play a match on this stage, I end up humming this theme afterwards

54. Island Swing - Donkey Kong Country

The amount of build-up in this song is incredible, and I love every second of it

53. Lums of the Water - Rayman Origins

As commenter frickfrock999 aptly stated,

"It's impossible to listen to this and not be happy."

52. The Great Sea - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

Can't wait to hear this play in Wind Waker U ^_^

51. Clock Town (First Day) - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Of the 3 Clock Town themes, I prefer this one; it's not fun to hear the ominous elements outside of the game xD

DISCLAIMER: In no way is copyright infringement intended, all themes' rights go to their respective owners. I believe the awesome people at TheOSTation (youtube channel) say it best, "The sharing of VGM does not destroy the video game industry, as it does indeed help it grow."

Well guys, it's been exactly 2 months since 70-61 were posted, so I hope you guys still care about this list. Be sure to tell me your thoughts in the comments!

]]>Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:03:32 -0700Edithttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/03/31/zrs-favorite-vg-music-60-51-this-list-is-still-going-on#disqus_threadhttp://www.ign.com/blogs/zeldaracer/2013/01/31/zrs-favorite-vg-music-70-61-switching-things-up
Everyone knows how important music is to video games - it can be the delicious icing on top of a cake layered with great gameplay or... it can be a flavorless piece of lettuce on top of an otherwise good sandwich.

Hey, would you look at this: not 90% Nintendo themes! And only a couple from Zelda games? Whaaaaaaa??????
Don't worry, I'm still the ZR you know and love/like/hate/are indifferent to, but expect to see a lower percentage of Ninty themes from here on out.

70. The Road of Trials - Journey

A wonderful, upbeat theme that accentuates some of the most beautiful moments in a game full of beauty

69. Trailer Theme - Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Main Theme is great, but the modified version for the trailer is even better

68. Dragon Roost Island - The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

Can't wait to here this in Wind Waker Wii U

67. Dr. Wily Stage 1 - Mega Man 2

One of the most recognizable themes in gaming, for good reason: it rocks!

66. Mute City - F-Zero

Speaking of rockin', this excellent SNES theme is still my favorite version of Mute City

65. Presenting VVVVVV - VVVVVV

Starts off relatively simple and mundane, but keep listening and you'll find a melancholy masterpiece

64. Realm Overworld - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

I have no intentions of finishing Spirit Tracks, but I'll be listening to this for years to come

63. Menu - Super Smash Bros. Melee

One of the few things I prefer in Melee

62. Kotake and Koume's Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

This theme's so good, the same exact version is in 3 games

61. Theme of Super Metroid - Super Metroid

Filled with tension and undoubtedly epic, fitting the game it hails from

DISCLAIMER: In no way is copyright infringement intended, all themes' rights go to their respective owners. I believe the awesome people at TheOSTation (youtube channel) say it best, "The sharing of VGM does not destroy the video game industry, as it does indeed help it grow."

Welp, I have failed you: it's been over a month since I last made an entry in this list. However, I don't have classes on Thursdays this semester so this could become a regular thing

And as always, please tell me what you think about this section in the comments, positive or negative.